Stop Library Budget Cuts!

Submit your testimony for City Council’s Budget Hearing

On May 21, 2024, Brooklyn Public Library will testify before the New York City Council’s Cultural Affairs and Libraries Committee at the FY25 Executive Budget Hearing. Libraries are currently facing $58.3 million dollars in budget cuts. Librarians and supporters will be with us at City Hall to make sure our message of support is heard loud and clear. Join us in urging city leaders to reverse these drastic proposed cuts to libraries by sending in your own message.

Will you join us? Help make our message to city leaders stronger by submitting your own testimony to the committee – we will hand deliver it to the New York City Council for you, to be added to the public record.

How is your local public library a part of your life?
Some examples may include regularly checking out new books, using online resources like eBooks or virtual homework help, attending special events like Senior Debate, Robotics Club or English conversation groups, or maybe you bring your children to Storytime at your local branch. How has access to all the free resources at your library impacted your life?
How have you seen your library play a role in bringing your community together? 
Maybe you attended a powerful program or discussion, volunteered to be a homework helper, or your teens visit their local branch every day after school with their friends? Perhaps you are part of a book club, or volunteer with a Friends of the Library group. Maybe you picked up free COVID tests, or eclipse glasses at your local branch. Perhaps your library is a safe space for you to visit in the hot summer when your branch is a cooling center. How have you seen the library strengthen your neighborhood?
Share any final thoughts – a favorite memory, a story, or an important message – on why you need your City Leaders to reverse the proposed cuts to Libraries:
Weekend library service is already limited due to a recent mid-year budget cut, and collections and programming have also been impacted. How would losing an additional day of library service and further cuts to collections and programming impact you?